Birthday delight: Harambee Starlets coach reflects on crucial win over Lesotho

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has praised her players for their resilience, discipline, and determination after finishing third at the Four-Nation Tournament in Lusaka, Zambia.

She described the result as a strong confidence booster ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Starlets wrapped up their campaign with a commanding 6-0 victory over Lesotho in the third-place playoff at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Fasila Adhiambo, Violet Nanjala, Terry Engesha, Eglay Mukwana and Catherine Khaemba were all on the scoresheet.

Kenya had earlier suffered disappointment against hosts Zambia, losing 4-1 in a penalty shootout after a tightly contested match after a one-all draw in regulation time.

However, they responded emphatically against Lesotho, scoring four first-half goals to take control of the game early and underline their attacking strength.

The result secured the bronze medal for the Starlets and offered a timely morale boost as the team builds towards upcoming international assignments, including WAFCON 2026.

Odemba attributed the improved performance to tactical discipline and the players’ commitment to instructions.

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“What worked for me, as usual, was that the players followed instructions and played very well. I congratulate them for that,” she said.

“The players wanted a win, and it is good that we have come away with something. Even though we were playing Lesotho, we did not underrate them. They came at us strongly, but my girls delivered and gave me the best birthday gift.”

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She added that the team is steadily growing in readiness for continental competition.

“I feel the team is ready for WAFCON and other international assignments. We have worked on our finishing, and there has been a lot of improvement compared to the FIFA tournament we hosted in Kenya,” she noted.

HB Koge forward Mwanahalima Adam Jereko also reflected positively on the tournament, highlighting both progress and lessons learned.

“It was a great tournament and finishing with a win was a good feeling. There were a few mistakes, but it is up to the technical bench to address them,” she said.

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“We have learned a lot, especially after the penalty loss to Zambia. Ahead of WAFCON, we believe we can achieve great things.”

The tournament formed a key part of Kenya’s preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled from July 26 to August 16. stage.

Starlets will be making only their second WAFCON appearance and their first since 2016.

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